The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-18
AN EXCELLENT. EXHIBIT.

Facts Set Forth in the Twenty-Second
Annual Report of the National Temper
| ance Society.
The twenty-second annual report of
the National Temperance Society and
! Publication House is an important his
| toric document, full of hope and en-
couragement for the members and
friends of the society 1t has great
significance also as an exhibit of the
marked and gratifying progress of the
Temperance reform in our own and
other countries.
The sales of publications bys the So
ciety have been larger than in any pre-
vious year of its existence, aggregat-
ing $54, 455. As the mercury in the
thermometer indicates the temperature
| of the atmosphere, so does this fact Of
the large and steadily-increasing sale
of the publications of this society at
test the widespread and growing pop
| ular interest in the cause of Temper
ance. As the contest with the liquor
oligarchy intensifies, the great prac-
teal value of Temperance literature, OF
the right kind, judiciously employed,
becomes more and more apparent. Its
possibilities for usefulness in awaken
ing and guiding Temperance public
opinion are just beginning to be under
stood and appreciated by multituses of
people hitherto Indifferent to the sub
iect. The Publication Committee have
kept pace with this new demand, and
have added during the past year 122
new publications, making total Of
1888. embracing every phase Of the
question, now on the society's cata-
logue. OF the extent of this Temper
ance seed-sowing some conception may
be gained from the statement that dur
ing the past year 81, 453, $50 pages have
been printed, making total of ILL.,
All, 427 pages since the organization OF
the society.
The missionary work of the society,
notably that among the colored people
of the South, assumes large and rapid
Embarrassing proportions. That dur
ing the past year it has been largely
blessed for good there is abundant
gratifying evidence. The submission
of prohibitory constitutional amend
ments in seven different States has
given marked impetus to temperance
educational work in those States where
in amendment campaigns are pending,
and has caused numerous and urgent
calls to be addressed to the society for
grants of literature for gratuitous dis
tribution. The Missionary Committee
have expended during the year about
fifteen thousand dollars, while the to-
tai receipts from donations and leg
acies have been less than ten thousand
dollars. Under these circumstances il
is quite impossible for the society adj
equately to meet the large and increas-
ing demands which are made upon it.
1t is greatly to be hoped that those
who are blessed with the means to give
will remember it henceforth with gen.
erous, increased subscriptions.
The public anniversary of the Socie-
ty, cele brated in the spacious Broad
way Tabernacle, was very interest
ing occasion. Though the attendance
was not quite as large rs in some pre-.
vious years, it was representative in
character, and included upon the plat
form and in the body of the church
many well-known cleroymen, leading
citizens, and representatives of various
Temperance organizations. The sew
eral addresses were eloquent and i'm.
pressive, eliciting many indications OF
hearty commentator.
The outlook for the ensuing year is
more hopeful and reassuring than evel
before. For the first time in its his.
tory it enters upon the new fiscal yeal
free from debt The eXigencies of the
society's work will, however, certainly
create larger demands upon it than
ever before. These demands it should
be enabled, by its members and friends
fully and adequately to meet. Let
there be everywhere union and hearty
cooperation for the utmost disconr.
agement of injurious social drinking
usages and the entire abolition of the
iniquitous traffic in strong drink. Ma.
tionaL Temperance AdCocate.